City leaders are steadfast that they want to sell North Port's share of Warm Mineral Springs.

They just don't want to sell to Sarasota County.

In a 4-0 vote, the North Port City Commission on Monday rejected an offer from Sarasota County to buy the city's half-interest in Warm Mineral Springs.

But in a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner James Blucher dissenting, the commission instructed city manager Jonathan Lewis to inquire whether a state or federal agency may want to buy the city's stake in the tourist attraction and archaeological site off U.S. 41.

In late 2010, the city and county jointly bought the springs for $5.5 million with much fanfare over their intent to make it a major resort destination.

But after the fall election, a new majority on the City Commission expressed concerns about the partnership and whether the springs could become a risky or overdeveloped venture. They expressed concerns that "an invitation to negotiate" with interested developers put out by the county was too broad.

City commissioners said they wanted to give the county the option of buying out North Port's interest before they considered looking for other potential buyers.

The County Commission offered $2 million, less than the $2.75 million the city paid, and demanded the entire property be "deannexed" so the county would have sole jurisdiction over future development there. City commissioners found those terms unacceptable.

"No way, Jose," Commissioner Rhonda DiFranco said.

County commissioners also said that they would sue the city if it sells its half-interest to a private entity.

"I think they're serious," city attorney Robert Robinson said of the county's threat to sue.

Since Yates and newly elected commissioners DiFranco and Cheryl Cook voted to sell the city's stake in the spring, two factions have emerged — each claiming it speaks for the majority of North Port residents.

On one side are taxpayers who distrust public-private sector land deals and don't want their city to get involved in what they suspect could become a risky or overdeveloped enterprise. Many of them would prefer that the county sell, too, so the springs would be back on the property tax rolls.

Stephen Schoenfeld, who started the group We The People this past weekend in support of the City Commission majority's decision to sell, said its new Facebook website attracted 77 "friends" in just a day and a half. As of Monday night, it had 83.

Schoenfeld said most city voters supported DiFranco and Cook in the fall election "because they campaigned on a platform to restore fiscal sanity to our city," Schoenfeld said.

On the other side of the argument are residents who believe local government needs to have a leading role in protecting environmental assets such as Warm Mineral Springs, and think a public-private partnership could enhance the springs as an economic asset, as well.

Wendy Namack, co-founder of the North Port Advocacy Alliance, says the newly formed group has collected 865 signatures on a petition urging the City Commission to rescind its 3-2 decision to sell.

"We need to protect this and it needs to be something that generates revenues for our future," Namack said.

Other commissioners declined to support Mayor Linda Yates' suggestion that Warm Mineral Springs' 81 acres be divided into two parcels: the 21 acres with the springs and spa for which Sarasota County could become the sole owner and the 60 vacant and commercially zoned acres which the city could sell to a resort developer of its choice.